Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large marble used as a shooter: In the game of marbles, a "taw" is the specific marble a player uses to shoot at and knock other marbles out of the playing ring.
   • The 23rd letter of the Hebrew alphabet (ת): "Taw" is the name of the final letter in the Hebrew alphabet.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Game Marble):
  • He carefully aimed his favorite taw at the cluster of marbles.
  • The rules state you must shoot your taw from behind the line.
• Noun (Hebrew Letter):
  • The word ends with the letter taw.
  • In ancient scripts, the taw was often written as a cross or mark.

Advanced Usage

• "To be one's taw": To be someone's preferred or special shooter marble.
  • That aggie isn't just any marble; it's been my taw for years.

Variants and Related Words

• Taws (n, plural): Multiple shooter marbles.
  • He had a collection of colorful taws.

Synonyms

• Shooter: A marble used for shooting (specifically in the context of the game).
• Aggie: A slang term for a marble made of agate, often used as a prized shooter.

Different Meanings

• Historical/Tanning (Less Common): In historical contexts, particularly leatherworking, "to taw" is a verb meaning to dress and whiten skins into white leather using minerals like alum and salt, rather than vegetable tannins. This usage is now rare and highly specialized.
  • The process to taw the hide took several weeks.

Noun

1. a large marble used for shooting in the game of marbles
2. the 23rd letter of the Hebrew alphabet